The excitement of passing your driving test is overwhelming, but even more thrilling is the emotion when you buy your first car. Price comparison website MoneySupermarket has used its car insurance data to find out which are the most popular first cars for the UK’s 17- and 18-year-old drivers.

15th – Volkswagen Golf

Propping up the list, the Golf also happens to be the biggest car of the top 15, making a somewhat surprising entry into a sea of superminis and city cars. Managing to be both classless and classy at the same time, Volkswagen’s long-standing family hatchback succeeds in being all things to all people. Including fresh-faced teenage drivers, it seems.

MoneySupermarket has not specified which particular version of Golf – or any of the cars on this list, in fact – proved the most popular. So we’ve hedged our bets on the Mk5 being a strong contender. Prices today have slipped firmly into the ‘affordable’ category, while engines like the 74hp 1.4-litre petrol should be sufficient to keep insurance prices vaguely sensible.

14th – Toyota Aygo

This is more what we would expect for a first car. Built alongside the Citroen C1 and Peugeot 107 in the Czech Republic, as a petite city car the original Aygo is perfect for those who are still getting to grips with driving. Plus, it was once used on Top Gear for a football match with cars, so it must be cool, right?

Specifically targeted at new and younger drivers, the first-generation Aygo had a tiny 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine with just 67hp. Top speed was less than 100mph, and parents could be satisfied with the four-star Euro NCAP safety rating and strong reliability.

13th – Toyota Yaris

Although it might look slightly dumpy today, when it was introduced the first-generation Yaris caused a genuine stir in the supermini world. Running costs with the base 1.0-litre petrol engine are dirt-cheap, with the added bonus of a roomy interior and that Toyota reputation for build quality.

Known in Japan as the Vitz, and by the Echo name in Australia and Canada, the Yaris is a truly global car. The original version, sold from 1999 to 2005, won the European Car of the Year award in 2000, placing it in the same high regard as the Citroen XM and Porsche 928. Surely that must make it a worthy choice for any eighteen-year-old driver?

12th – Peugeot 107

As one of the three Toyota/Citroen/Peugeot triplets, the 107 had quite a hard task in following the Peugeot 106 which had gone before it. That car had been a particular favourite with new drivers during its 12-year lifespan, meaning the badge-engineered 107 had a lot to live up to.

Like the Aygo, a 1.0-litre petrol engine came as standard in the original 107, with a 1.4-litre diesel also on offer. Three- or five-door versions were available, although only there is only space for four people inside the 3.4-metre-long 107. Peugeot gave a 107 away as a prize for young drivers in 2009, so maybe that helped boost it to 12th on this list.

11th – Nissan Micra

Beloved of students and pensioners alike, that the diminutive Micra makes an appearance on a young driver favourite list shouldn’t be a surprise. Easy manoeuvrability, a choice of low-power 1.0-litre and 1.2-litre engines, plus cheap insurance make it a natural choice for a first car.

The K12 Micra – as pictured – was quite radical when it hit the market in 2003, thanks to that distinctive styling. All those curves meant interior space was somewhat limited, however. The K12 would also be the last Micra produced at Nissan’s Sunderland factory, now responsible for the Juke and Qashqai crossovers.

10th – MINI One

In the small car stakes, the new MINI is a pretty big deal. So it’s no wonder that it manages to be popular with teenagers taking their first steps onto the highway. They might need slightly deeper pockets if they plump for the MINI, as even in One specification it features a 90hp 1.6-litre engine that might cause insurers some alarm.

Offsetting the higher insurance bracket is the fact that the first-generation MINI hatchback is now fairly affordable to buy. Add in a funky interior, sharp handling, and the badge kudos of owning a MINI, and you might be able to overlook those insurance premiums. Just don’t go expecting to carry much in the boot.

9th – Peugeot 206

It might not have been sold in the UK for almost a decade, but that doesn’t stop the venerable 206 from still being a top-10 favourite with new drivers. The 206 managed to continually feature in best-seller lists in the early 2000s, and such ubiquity means prices today are low and parts plentiful. There’s also the added patriotic bonus of the 206 being the last Peugeot to be built at the Ryton plant in Coventry.

Engine choices included new driver-friendly options such as a 1.1-litre four cylinder with 59hp, while the 1.4-litre was the most popular in the range. Even today, the 206 looks pretty neat – in an early 2000s way – although the scratchy interior plastics and cramped seating position are the price you pay for such style.

8th – Citroen C1

You probably know the drill with this one by now. Much the same as the Toyota Aygo and Peugeot 107 save for badging, the C1 is a Czech-built city car with a 1.0-litre 67hp engine. Citroen is renowned for offering cheap finance deals and substantial discounts, which may have helped push the C1 higher up the list.

All original C1s came with power steering, a CD player, and full-size spare wheel, while higher specification cars had remote central locking and body coloured bumpers. In 2013, there was even a special edition based on feedback from Facebook, called the Connexion, which featured alloy wheels and air conditioning.

7th – Fiat Punto

Spanning three generations and nearly 25 years in production, the Punto has become a favourite for holiday hire cars and first runarounds. With rock-bottom prices, stylish Italian looks and the benefit of a ‘City’ button for making the power steering even lighter when parking, the Punto makes a strong case for itself.

It might seem a little bit clichéd, but the trade-off for the Punto’s ‘Italian charm’ is the potential for unreliability, with head gaskets a known weakness. Still, all that time waiting at the side of the road for breakdown recovery does let you post some amazing Instagram photos, or send sarcastic Snapchats.

6th – Fiat 500

Cramped, noisy and based on a platform shared with the Fiat Panda that was introduced way back in 2003 – but does anyone who buys one care? We imagine not. No, if you’re looking for ultimate in city car retro-chic then the 500 is for you. Offered in a range of fancy colours – including pink – to make you look totally ‘on fleek’, the little Fiat is certainly a fashion-conscious buy.

Engine choices include the four-cylinder 1.2-litre petrol with 69hp, while a tiny 0.9-litre two-cylinder Twinair offers 85hp. The 500 also scored a full five stars in Euro NCAP, giving teenage buyers another line of persuasion when trying to explain to their parents why they must have one. Like, right now.

5th – Ford Ka

Into the top five and, although older than the 17-year-olds who might be buying it, we’ve picked the original Ford Ka for the fact it screams ‘first car’ so loudly. It managed to be the best-selling city car in the UK for a number of years, and proved popular with young drivers on account of its forgiving unpainted plastic bumpers. As an added bonus, there is the potential for hours of fun debating the pronunciation of the name ‘Ka’.

The earliest Ka models came with a 1.3-litre ‘Endura’ engine, which dated back to the 1970s, and made just 59hp. Rust will have undoubtedly claimed most of those initial cars, meaning options today will more than likely focus on the later ‘Duratec’ motor with 69hp. Insurance is cheap whatever version, and all benefit from go-kart handling, plus the knowledge you’re driving one of Ford’s original ‘New Edge’ designs.

4th – Renault Clio

With extra ‘va-va-voom’, the second-generation Renault Clio was perhaps most famous for an advertising campaign that featured Thierry Henry and Hélène Mahieu. Those cultural references are probably a little lost on the teens getting behind the wheel now. More relevant is a cheap supermini, with a little extra Gallic flair, and affordable prices.

The interior of the second-gen Clio was cramped and uncomfortable at best, and might feel very dated for those used to touchscreens and soft plastics. Thankfully, the entry-level engines are surprisingly sprightly, with the 75hp 1.2-litre 16v the pick of the bunch if your insurance company will play ball. Safety is also strong, courtesy of being built in the period where Renault was relentless in the pursuit of top Euro NCAP scores.

3rd – Volkswagen Polo

Taking the bronze medal is a supermini that has been around since 1975, with five generations of small Volkswagen on offer. Recent marketing campaigns have emphasised the toughness of the little VW, with the latest Polo even featuring an advert that pitched it as the perfect first car. Electronic Stability Control, Hill Hold Control, fatigue detection, and multiple airbags help seal the safety deal.

Interestingly, despite being related to the Skoda Fabia and SEAT Ibiza, neither of the Polo’s lower-priced brethren make an appearance on this list. Perhaps badge snobbery matters a lot, even to those buying their very first car. Volkswagen does offer free insurance for those aged 18 and over, which may help it snag some teenage customers.

2nd – Ford Fiesta

Persistently top of the charts for best-selling cars in the UK, it comes as no surprise that the Fiesta appears second on the list of first motor favourites. Some 120,000 Fiestas were bought new in 2016 alone, meaning there are plenty out there to tempt youngsters. Engines start with a 1.25-litre four-cylinder in 59hp and 80hp flavours, combined with a range of trim levels, meaning there really is a Fiesta for every teenager.

The latest Fiesta also features an option that could make it ideal for young drivers, or their parents. MyKey allows owners to programme individual keys for each driver, with options to limit top speed or even the volume of the radio. Add a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating and the Fiesta becomes an easy choice to justify for concerned parents. But just what could keep it from taking the top spot?

1st – Vauxhall Corsa

Boom! No, it might not be the most exciting car on this list, the safest, or even the most fashionable. In fact, the Corsa has a reputation for being straight-down-the-line and playing it safe. Yet that middle of the road status proves that it can be suited to virtually any circumstances, and the fourth-generation Corsa proved to be a big success with young drivers who just wanted to get behind the wheel.

Cheap finance deals, a range of endless special editions and a variety of engine options mean there can be a Corsa for any young driver. Parts are cheap, mechanical reliability is generally good, and running costs should be kept to a minimum. Engines like the 59hp 1.0-litre 12v scrape into the lowest possible insurance group, which may well be the biggest concern for any teenage driver, and help explain why it takes first place here.

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